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How to Get Spiritually Ready for Ramadan (Q & A Session)

Dina Mohamed Basiony
08 May, 2017

Asalamu Alaikum brothers and sisters, 

With Ramadan rapidly approaching and everyone preparing for the month of spiritual feasting and physical fasting, we are offering a live session to address all your questions and concerns before Ramadan arrives.

Have all your questions on spirituality and drawing nearer to Allah in the holy month answered in our next live session with Ask Islam counselor and Spirituality Editor at Productivemuslim.com, Dina Mohamed Basiony.

Join us Friday, May 12 from 11 PM – 1 AM in Makkah (8 -10 PM GMT) (10 PM -12 AM in Cairo) (3-5 PM in Chicago).

Can’t make it to the Live Session? Don’t worry. You can email your questions in ahead of time to [email protected]

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Friday, May. 12, 2017 | 23:00 - 01:00 GMT

Session is over.
DISCLAIMER
Views expressed by hosts/guests on this program (live dialogue, Facebook sessions, etc.) are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.  

My day to day life is so very hectic. I don’t get a moment to think about anything but what I have to do next from the moment I wake up till I go to sleep. Do you have some simple tips for me to make time to think about and actually coming closer to Allah before and during Ramadan?



Peace be upon you sister,

If you are not making time for reading the Qur’an and maintaining adhkar of the morning and evening you will surely find yourself lacking time.

Remember one of Allah’s Names is Al Wase’  الواسع (The Vast), so the remembrance of Allah through Qur’an and dhikr will never be placed in your time, except that they expand it.

So if you feel like you are rushing, the advice would be to wake up during fajr time, pray, and read some Qur’an and recite your morning adkhar after your fajr prayer. Then recite your evening adhkar after your asr prayer, and keep doing that for a few days and observe how this completely changes your day for the better and gives you more peace, stability, focus and serenity.

For more tips on how to get closer to Allah, please read the following and they will give you a plan for your journey of returning back to Allah, sister. May Allah aid you and facilitate everything for you.

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5 Tips to Remain Steadfast

How Can I Re-establish my Relationship with Allah?

Feeling Faraway from Allah: What to Do?

How to Get Closer to Allah? Seek Him Sincerely!

I am not able to fast for medical reasons, but I do enjoy participating in the spirit of Ramadan and Tarweeh. What are some ways I can get ready for Ramadan even though I can’t fast to prepare?



Peace be upon you dear sister,

First of all, we ask Allah to heal you from your medical condition and reward you for everything you’re enduring. Do not forget to make a lot of dua (supplication) to Allah Almighty to heal you and reward you and grant you the best in this world and the next.

We have detailed tips on what to do in Ramadan if you’re not fasting, please check the answers below and you’ll find great tips and ideas to follow that will help you make the best of this period.

How can I make this Ramadan Memorable?

How to Make the Best of Ramadan During Menstruation?

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How to Prepare for Ramadan?

What’s the Importance of Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah)?

I hope these articles help. Please keep in touch. 

Salam. 

I know that fasting helps us understand what it feels like to be needy, but what are some other reasons we fast? Or is this the only one?



Peace be upon you,

Excellent question! Fasting is much deeper than that and it helps us attain enormous personal, spiritual, intellectual, and physical benefits if we understand what it means to have taqwa (God consciousness) and actually put it into practice.

Allah (subhanau wa ta’ala) says in the Noble Qur’an (as translated into English):

{O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may [gain taqwa]} (Qur’an 2: 183)

The word taqwa, from the word (weqaya i.e. protection), means to protect ourselves and our souls by doing the righteous acts that the Creator prescribed, and to refrain from the transgressions that He prohibited.

Imagine, for example, you taking a cold shower then you come out with your hair wet to find your window open- which may lead you to catch cold-, so you rush to close it. This is a form of (weqaya/protection). It has to do with acts that prevents harm and brings goodness.

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When we have taqwa, we do the acts that prevents the anger of Allah and earns us His pleasure. By leaving what He has prohibited and doing what He commanded, we earn spiritual benefits and rewards in this world and the next, and we avoid His anger or punishment.

How is fasting related to taqwa?

We fast for hours while the food and drinks are right in front of us. Yet we don’t touch them while we can easily do so. Training ourselves to restrain our desires for a period of time for the pleasure of Allah and the purification of our soul help us attain taqwa.

While fasting, we control the basic physical desires (food, drink, sexual intercourse) to gain spiritual strength. We weaken the physical being to strengthen the spiritual being. We do that by always thinking about Allah (i.e. being God-conscious).

Whenever we see certain things that are prohibited during the fast we remember Allah and refrain from transgressing or breaking the commitment of fasting … this helps us become mutaqeen (become people of taqwa, i.e. God consciousness).

So, controlling our desires instead of following them blindly or being enslaved by them is something that is much appreciated and rewarded by the Creator, Allah Almighty.

What is the reward of taqwa?

This word with its derivatives is mentioned over 200 times in the Qur’an.

Allah Almighty told us about Al mutaqeen (those who have taqwa):

{Indeed, Allah loves al-mutaqeen.} (Qur’an 3: 76)

{Indeed, al-mutaqeen will be in a secure place.} (Qur’an 44: 51)

{Indeed, al-mutaqeen will be among gardens and springs.} (Qur’an 51: 15)

{Indeed, al-mutaqeen will be among gardens and rivers.} (Qur’an 54: 54)

{And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for [al mutaqeen].} (Qur’an 3: 133)

{Indeed, the [mutaqeen] will be among shades and springs. And fruits from whatever they desire, [Being told], “Eat and drink in satisfaction for what you used to do”. Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.} (Qur’an 77: 41-44)

{Unquestionably, [for] the allies of Allah there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. Those who believed and were [mutaqoon], for them are good tidings in the worldly life and in the Hereafter. No change is there in the words of Allah. That is what is the great attainment.} (Qur’an 10: 62-64)

{And whoever fears Allah (has taqwa) – He will make for him a way out. And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.} (Qur’an 65: 2-3)

{[…] and whoever fears Allah (has taqwa) – He will remove for him his misdeeds and make great for him his reward.} (Qur’an 65: 5)

I hope this helps answer your question. Please keep in touch. 

Salam.